Storm Damage January 2025 (February Update)

UPDATE: 7 February 2025.

Further audits have discovered a landslip near the top of Buddong Falls and walkers are advised to enter this area with caution. The track is passable but the risk of further falling rocks from above or loose ground underfoot is a possibility. We advise walkers to avoid this area until further information is provided. See images below for reference:

January Update:

Severe storms experienced through January have caused extensive damage to parts of the Hume & Hovell Track in the Snowy Valleys region, as can be seen in the below video taken by our track manager on last week’s audit:

As shown, there are scores of fallen trees, branches and debris across the track corridor in places north of Tumbarumba. The most significantly impacted section is between Buddong Hut and Paddys River Dam Campsite, but there is a scattering of fallen trees right along the alignment where the storms have passed through. Our team are working their way along the track to undertake audits and fully assess the damage.

Paddys River Dam to Junction Campsite also has some bracken regrowth, which is expected due to the usual growing season, and there are some areas with longer grass as we see rapid growth in the warmer months.

The overgrown undergrowth and tree fall will make it difficult for walkers to pass through this section and we advise that some sections of the walk are currently impassable or will certainly mean the walk time is much slower and more difficult than expected.

There is a maintenance action plan in place that is already underway to tackle these issues, and to clear all of the fallen trees with the support of arborists to ensure there are no dangerous trees in the vicinity of the track which could cause further harm.

If you are planning on walking on the Hume & Hovell Track and would like to check the condition of the Track, please reach out to us via the Contact Us page.

Track maintenance work continues and is approached on a priority basis, but we encourage all users to complete a ‘report a track defect’ form via our Contact Us page on our website if there are any issues found that need actioning.

Regardless of the Track condition, we also encourage our walkers to be prepared when exploring the Hume and Hovell Track, please download mapping resources to assist with navigation, take plenty of water or be carrying a water filtration option, take a satellite phone or personal locator beacon (PLB), notify someone of your trip or register your trip with us and carry first aid supplies. For a full list of recommendations please see the hiker tips